Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

When the battle is done . . . The Emperor unleashes hell and annihilates an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind--but Circe strikes back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from her allies.And all hope is lost . . . With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter's reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other her worst nightmare.Vengeance becomes everything.To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future--and her chilling past--will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter's ashes, stronger than ever before?

What did I just read?

Arcana Rising is the 4th book in the Arcana Chronicles series and the stakes are really, really high in this book!

After Circe and the Emperor’s collision in the end of Dead Of Winter, many lives have been lost but most importantly that of The Moon card, Selena and The Hunter, Jack. Selena and Jack are presumed dead but are they really? Well, you will need to read the book to find out because my lips are sealed! If the Emperor’s earthquake was devastating, then Circe’s tsunami brought CHAOS. Evie has no idea who is alive, who is dead and if she will be able to survive this round of the game. After Evie and Aric are separated due to the force of the water, Evie is losing hope.

But losing hope means death and Evie will not die until she destroys Richter, the Emperor. Her plans for vengeance keep her afloat for days until the Empress resurfaces! Arcana Rising is a game changer book! In order to defeat the Emperor, Evie will have to form new alliances and strengthen old ones in the midst of betrayals and thousands of years’ worth of mistrust.

I have no words! There are so many things going on this book, some of which you are not going to love or even like. There is this feeling of urgency in the book and I was expecting something big to happen and I was just turning the pages so fast until it did! I don’t know how I feel about the ending of the book – which is another cliffhanger but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be worth the wait. I loved some aspects of the book but there were some that really confused me. Like for example, I’m 100% sure that Evie’s wicked grandmother did something before she finally died but I have no idea what! Also, what’s the point with the HUGE twist in the end of the book? I have no IDEA how that’s going to work in the story but we will have to wait and see.

Once again, the characters were confusing as heck, especially the new Arcana player we meet, but then all of them have their own endgames. I was also thrilled to see Aric finally working as part of a team!

Arcana Rising was fantastic! As much frustrated as I’m with the ending, the plot of the book was brilliant and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

This fall...Happily-ever-after.That’s what happens when you get married.Right?Turns out sparkly rings, cake and a fantastic wedding do not automatically grant you that, not even when it’s all you truly want.I’m even starting to doubt the bottomless, unconditional love I share with the man I married will be enough.I can’t have happily ever after, know why?Because I can’t give Romeo what he truly wants. I’ve tried. So hard. I won’t be happy unless he is and something is missing. Someone.Paparazzi are in my face. The flashing cameras and prying eyes are everywhere. My secret is getting harder to hide, and I know the second the scoop is dished the grip I have on the fraying rope of that happily ever after will snap right in my face.In our face.I can’t let that happen. No matter what. Because with or without a happy ending, Romeo comes Before Anyone Else.

This book was so awesome!! I was very excited when Cambria announced another book in the #Hashtag series and it came out not long after! What was it?! Two months?! Okay, so I was a bit sad that Arrow's book was put on hold, but how can I complain when we got #Bae?! The story was just so beautifully told. I couldn't wait to see how everybody's life had turned out, and now that I finally read it, I can say that the last book was absolutely needed to complete the series!! I simply loved it!!

In my opinion, it was very carefully written and everything happended at the right time. Not too soon or too late!! The only thing that had me a bit frustrated, was the description of the compound at the beginning. And that was because I couldn't wait to get to the rest of the story already!! Maybe it was a bit too long! Other than that, I found #Bae pretty compelling!!

Rimmel and Romeo where such sweethearts! I liked how Cambria managed to keep to their characters and make them appear more mature and all grown-up. Especially, with everything that's going on with the pregnancy and the paparazzi. It's sweet seeing that even though they both feel sort of depressed they choose to be strong for each other and put their feelings aside so the other can feel somewhat lighter!! And even after they confess to each other how they truly feel, their bond becomes much stronger and that is just amazing! To be honest, they are one of the couples that just stuck with me, no matter how many other books I read.

Braeden and Ivy on the other hand, they were EPIC. You can't have Rimmel and Romeo without Braeden and Ivy!! Just no!! Braeden was hilarious and made everything just a little bit less serious. I loved how supportive and compassionate he was with Rimmel and Romeo's situation and with Drew and Trent's relationship! And his approach to all the drama is always different from the others’, what with his jokes and all. And I believe that’s what makes Ivy love him even more. She and Braeden have accepted parenthood and their relationship with Nova is sweet and funny sometimes. Ivy is still the best friend Rimmel could ever have, which given the situation, is something priceless to Rimmel.

Now, Drew and Trent are another story. First of all, their book series "Gearshark" is one of my favourites. And I really, really liked that they had so many scenes in #Bae. Not just filler scenes, but scenes where we saw how they have managed to move forward, despite all the paparazzi drama. Aaand other "family" drama, that still remains to be solved. Trent, as usual, is the most understanding of them all and his relationship with Rimmel has gotten stronger. Something that I personally didn't expect, but I liked it all the same. All in all, they where perfect to me and I can't wait to see more of them in Arrow's book!! Please!!

And what can I say about the ending?! It was fan-freaking-tastic!! Everything just turned out okay if not better! It was fulfilling, touching and humorous all at the same time. We got to see another side to Romeo and Rimmel, which made them even more lovable! Honestly, they deserved everything they've got and more. Can't say there was any exaggeration or anything irrelevant. The story ended perfectly with a cherry on top!!!

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who's in the mood for something funny, touching, and filled with love and friendship!!

Meira will do anything to save her world. With Angra trying to break through her mental defenses, she desperately needs to learn to control her own magic—so when the leader of a mysterious Order from Paisly offers to teach her, she jumps at the chance. But the true solution to stopping the Decay lies in a labyrinth deep beneath the Season Kingdoms. To defeat Angra, Meira will have to enter the labyrinth, destroy the very magic she’s learning to control—and make the biggest sacrifice of all.

Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to rally the Children of the Thaw, find Meira—and finally tell her how he really feels. But with a plan of attack that leaves no kingdom unscathed and a major betrayal within their ranks, winning the war—and protecting Meira—slips farther and farther out of reach.

Ceridwen will do anything to save her people. Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner. But when she’s freed by an unexpected ally who reveals a shocking truth behind Summer’s slave trade, Ceridwen must take action to save her true love and her kingdom, even if it costs her what little she has left.

As Angra unleashes the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather, and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together…or lose everything.

In Kresley Cole’s celebrated story “The Warlord Wants Forever,” the first in her scorching Immortals After Dark series, vampire warlord Nikolai Wroth will stop at nothing to claim his Bride, the one woman who can make his heart beat again. But can beautiful Myst the Coveted accept an enemy vampire as her own?
Tehya has spent the last twelve years as an accidental wolf, but is truly a vampire at heart. When she gets injured, Lobo sneaks her inside MoonBound’s headquarters and nurses her back to health…with potentially deadly consequences. Desire collides with danger in “Forsaken by Night,” a MoonBound Clan novella from Larissa Ione!
In Gena Showalter’s Otherworld Assassins novella, Dark Swan, Lilica Swan isn’t quite human or otherworlder; she is the best—and worst—of both. She is willing to do whatever proves necessary to save her sister from the seductive and deadly Alien Investigation and Removal agent, Dallas Gutierrez, even bond her life to his…effectively wedding him. But without consummation, the bond will fade. Can Dallas resist his insatiable desire for the powerful beauty? Or will she lead to his ultimate downfall?

The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
Myst and Nikolai’s book is the first look into a whole new world of supernatural beings. The Immortals After Dark series is one of my top 5 series and you will be glad to know that it’s not over yet!

Myst the Coveted is a Valkyrie as fierce as all of her sisters! When vampire General Nikolai Wroth takes over one of the castles of his King’s enemies and discovers the beautiful creature in the dungeon, he doesn’t know what to do with her. His first instinct screams to keep her but then Myst seems to have information that Kristoff, his King, needs and Nikolai owes him his life. It’s not long before Nikolai realizes that Myst is not the helpless creature her though her to be and it’s not long after she slips through his fingers.

What did I think of the story? Duh, I freaking love the IAD series and Myst and Nikolai’s story is just a small taste of how incredible the whole series is. Their story can also be found as a standalone book.

Forsaken by Night by Larissa Ione
This story is part of the MoonBound Clan Vampires series, which I have not read, but it can totally be read as a standalone.

Forsaken by night tells the story of Lobo, a vampire who can change forms and Tehya, a vampire who is stuck in her werewolf form. When Lobo found the injured wolf years ago, it gave him all the motivation he needed to get his act together and live for the loyal wolf. Now, Tehya is fatally injured once again and Lobo will risk everything to get her the help she needs. Lobo not only breaks the rules but the very laws that he once obeyed to heal this wolf. Little does he expect to meet the woman trapped as the wolf and the attraction that he cannot deny. But Lobo has broken the laws and it’s now time to pay the consequences.

I really liked Lobo and Tehya’s story. They were two amazing but tortured characters who completed each other. Lobo thought that the wolf saved him when he needed something to live but it’s not until he meets the real Tehya that he realizes what he has been missing. We also get to see some other characters in the series as well as some new developments.

Dark Swan by Gena Showalter
*Squee* This is the story that I have been waiting for YEARS!

I’m a HUGE fan of the Alien Huntress series and its spin off, Otherworld Assassin series, and for awhile now I thought that Gena was done with the series but she’s NOT!

Agent Dallas Gutierrez has had a rough start in life and it hasn’t gotten any better. Sure, he has the most loyal and caring friends in the world but his near death experience cost him his human nature. Now, a human and an Arcadian hybrid, Dallas will do anything to stop the biggest threat on earth, Trinity Swan.

Lilica Swan will do anything to save her sister even if it means staying close to the enemy. When Jade, her other sister, informs her that the only way to find Trinity s through Dallas, Lilica knows she will have to stick with him to protect her sister. But what happens when Lilica and Dallas fall in love yet their missions remain the same?

I FREAKING LOVED IT! Dallas and Lilica were amazing characters! We got to catch up with other characters in the series such as Mia, who is still a badass, and Devyn & Bride, who I LOVE as a couple! We also got to see what’s going on with John No Last Name, a character we met in the Otherworld Assassin series and someone who has had it even rougher than Dallas. Despite his horrific past, John is an excellent agent and is put in charge of Jade’s protection. The pair has some serious issues to get through and I’m hoping we get to see their HEA.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It gives us a chance to share with readers what we bought, borrowed, swapped, won or got for review each week.

This week I read:

Click on cover for Goodreads:

Despite my awful (at the moment) schedule, I managed to read two awesome books! The Debt is a recent release by Karina Halle while Blood Red Kiss will be out in just a week! I was lucky enough to have gotten an ARC and I LOVED it! For any Alien Hunteress and Otherworld Assassin series (by Gena Showalter) Fans - prepared to be blown away by Gena's story, Dark Swan!

He told me to 'settle, girl.'
He asked if 'something was wrong with me?'
He said I was an ‘easy target.’
That was within minutes when I first met Caden Banks.
I labeled him an *sshole, but he was more than that. Arrogant. Smug. Alpha.

He was also to-die-for gorgeous, and my stepbrother’s fraternity brother.

Okay, yes I was a little naive, a tad bit socially awkward, and the smallest amount of stalker-ish, but if Caden Banks thought he could tell me what to do, he had another thing coming.

I came to college with daydreams about being with my stepbrother, but what if I fell for the anti-stepbrother instead?

Where to begin with this book?! I haven't read any other of Tijan's books, so I haven't formed a concluded opinion about her. Judging from this book though, I'll dare to say that her writing was at times cheesy and totally predictable, and in other times somewhat okay and funny. What I mean to say is that at times I thought that this was a nice read but then the author would throw a line that was a bit corny, which made me feel a bit hesitant to continue reading. Nevertheless, I did finish it!

Aside from the writing style and the goings-on between the two leading characters, which were a bit cheesy, I think that the storyline was a good one. The book follows Summer’s struggle to make sense of her feelings towards Caden, the anti-stepbrother. The story was well-built with a steady pace. The author had a nice and strong idea about the main subject but I felt that it wasn't supported well enough by other facts in the book. Meaning, I wanted it to be more focused on the relationship between the two leading characters than on other facts in the book.

The characters were nice enough constructed. Especially Caden. I didn't like how Summer went from the girl-in-the-corner to party girl so fast. There was no warning when she changed and the reason behind her change may not have been childish but it was a bit immature. I get the whole going-to-college, new life, escaping type of thing, but it was just too much. Her relationship with her stepbrother was too complicated and just when I thought I had it figured out, I actually didn't. Talk about a roller-coaster!!! Honestly, the only one who was worth it, at least to me, was Caden, and not because I love bad boys, or because he had tattoos. He was the only one who was sticking to his role and didn't do anything out of character from beginning to end.

The ending was a bit abrupt. Maybe the author thought of it as a twist or something but, I didn't see any reason for it. Based on Summer’s strong will and independent personality, that ending was completely out of the blue and unnecessary. I'm not saying it wasn't a good ending, I'm saying it would be better fitting for another story, not this one.

Anti-Stepbrother had its ups and downs, its what-the-heck moments and its oh-well ones. It left me both surprised and a bit disappointed. If you are in the mood for a not-so-tragic read, then this book is for you.

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